De la Rosa unsure Alonso will race beyond 2026

Dec.18 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa admits even Fernando Alonso himself does not yet know how long his Formula 1 career will last beyond the new 2026 regulations.

The Spaniards are long-time friends and colleagues, and de la Rosa now works alongside Alonso at Aston Martin as a brand ambassador. Speaking on Cadena SER’s El Larguero, de la Rosa said the decision will come down purely to Alonso’s own feeling.

“I’ve learned from Fernando to appreciate his talent and to work with him race by race,” he said. “I don’t know – and I don’t think he knows either.

“It’s a very personal matter, and when he finds that he’s losing some performance or lacking energy, he’ll be the first to raise his hand. But in the meantime, that’s not happening.”

De la Rosa insisted there are no signs of decline. “I assure you that I haven’t seen him drop in performance even a little bit in any race this year. We have to enjoy watching him.

“The human body has its limits, but I haven’t seen Fernando reach them yet. He still has tremendous enthusiasm and strength, which is the most important thing.”

However, he acknowledged that time is not on Alonso’s side. “It’s also true that we have to give him a better car, and that’s the goal, because age is what it is, and we can’t wait any longer.”

That urgency surfaced in Abu Dhabi after the season finale, when de la Rosa spontaneously challenged 44-year-old Alonso with a question as the driver climbed out of the car.

“If you can finish sixth with this year, what can you do with a more normal car?” de la Rosa asked. Alonso’s reply was immediate: “Finish first.”

Reflecting on the moment, de la Rosa stressed there was nothing rehearsed about it. “The truth is, it was an interview that wasn’t even planned. I didn’t even know what I was going to ask him.

“Fernando had just gotten out of the car, he was sweating, he’d put on his ice pack, and that question just came from within me, and his answer came from even deeper. It was powerful.

“That’s where Fernando left it,” de la Rosa concluded. “And his aspirations are clear.”

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